.

This forum is dedicated to discussions on how to grow the sport of hang gliding. We will take a methodical approach to collect data and come up with implementable ideas on how to increase our numbers. This includes effective marketing, lead generation, site access issues, improving regulations, lack of instructors, lack of sites, etc

Food for thought, In 2011 there where 4,010 HG pilots as members of USHPA,
At the end of 2015 the number dropped to 3,430 is this a concern to anyone. It seems like very few new HGs pilots stick with the sport . While New PGs went from 4,000 in 2011 to 5,153 in the same time frame. The numbers are staggering are we a numbered breed ?

There is a certain amount of people that will enter a sport or hobby, seriously hit it, and then drop out after about 5 years. There are a certain amount that 'age out' or just plain drop it due to medical reasons. They love the sport - just can't handle the rigors anymore. There are some that get killed - pilot no mo'. Others quit due to family or job pressures and relocation.

Then there are the old dogs that will be buried with their harnesses on and a glider shortpacked in the coffin.

I believe the dwindling numbers are a reflection of a LOT of things, but mainly due to the lack of ready, low cost instruction and nearby training hills - and most significantly, the growth of the paragliding sport which directly competes against HG for pilots. Say what you want about 'bi-wingual' or crossover - PG pilots are PG, HG pilots are HG and the twain don't meet.

There are 2 types of gliders - those that have been whacked.... and those that haven't been flown yet.

Flyboy5131 wrote:Maybe we have over regulated ourselfs and there are no instructors left?

Yes, yes, exactly right! USHPA put such a stranglehold on instructors in the 1990's by allowing a BOD dominated by big hang gliding schools to enact regulations without the ability to fulfill them, that nowadays we are seeing the consequences of those policies.

As long as USHPA coffers stay full by incoming paraglider membership gains compensating for outgoing hang glider membership losses, there is little incentive for the Ass. to do anything about it.

.

User mini profile

I was a certified instructor from 1988 to 2003. While there were some regulatory changes during this time I didn't really perceive any great difficulty in maintaining my certification, and left instructing because of issues unrelated to USHGA.

During that time, however, our demographic collapse was already evident. The average age of HG pilots was somewhere in the late 20s or early 30s when I started instructing and was well into the 40s when I stopped. I believe it's in the mid-50s by now.

While the current regulatory environment and its associated costs would certainly discourage me from instructing again I'm pretty sure that factors larger than USHGA policies are behind our dwindling numbers.

Sports go through cycles. The generation from the 70s and 80s is retiring but there are lots of eager younger pilots like myself and others who are hooked and will keep the flame alive. It's going to be OK.

User mini profile

I think the philosophical and psychological make up of the last few generations has younger people doing less big adventurer stuff. The wish to fly, the will to learn and develop skills and the perceived availability of instruction has slowed down interest.

This is true in general aviation and each slice (power, glider, hang glider) is facing this.

One thing about Hang Gliding is ..its not new anymore......Those of us that grew up on gliding as a key part of our lives got caught up in the "new" when we were young.

Perhaps a generation will come again that believed in flight and experiencing the world from above.

I don't know. I'm kind of staying back on this although I have started typing a response several times. Aviation, in general, has become restricted and uninviting to new pilots. There are a multitude of reasons why HG doesn't grow - and everybody has their opinions. I agree that the 'virtual reality' world has provided an alternative for thrill seekers, site encroachment, insurance and legal issues, cost factors, profitability for schools, etc. all play a factor - but I see PG on the rise and a big threat to HG numbers which continue to dwindle. PG's tend to be in the public eye more as they are flying more sites closer to populated areas than HG's. As PG's get into more and more trouble (particularly the powered ones) and people don't see them as different from HG's, it will continue to hurt membership. I don't see HG as any safer than PG statistically, but they sure seem to get into more trouble. It's just sad that we can't convert more of the PG group over to HG instead of the other way around.

Anyway, lots going on here. I'm just glad to still have good equipment, good friends and plenty of places to fly and will continue to do so, no matter how few we become.

There are 2 types of gliders - those that have been whacked.... and those that haven't been flown yet.

User mini profile

Wills Wing sales number have been constant for a number of years in the US. Their international sales were way up when the dollar was fairly priced. Now that it is high they have lost 25% of their business.

davisstraub wrote:Wills Wing sales number have been constant for a number of years in the US. Their international sales were way up when the dollar was fairly priced. Now that it is high they have lost 25% of their business.